< Back Campbell Literary Author Jack Campbell (John G. Hemry) is a sailor, and as such he's been known to tell stories about events which he says really happened (but cannot be verified). His latest book is DESTINY'S WAY, the second book in the Doomed Earth series. He's also the author of the New York Times best-selling Lost Fleet series, Genesis Fleet series, and Lost Stars series, as well as the Steampunk-meets-high-fantasy Pillars of Reality series. His other most recent books are RENDEZVOUS WITH CORSAIR (a collection of short fiction set in the Lost Fleet Universe), IMPLACABLE in the Lost Fleet series OUTLANDS, and The Empress of the Endless Sea trilogy (PIRATE OF THE PROPHECY, EXPLORER OF THE ENDLESS SEA, and FATE OF THE FREE LANDS). His YA novel THE SISTER PARADOX won the EPIC 2018 ebook Young Reader award. John's works are currently being published in thirteen languages. John is a retired US Navy officer. He lives in Maryland with his indomitable wife “S” and three great kids. www.jack-campbell.com Other Socials

< Back Rigel Ailum Literary Author Rigel Ailur wrote her first novel—all of seven pages!—at the age of seven and hasn't stopped since. Now with twenty-four novels and ninety short stories published, including for Star Trek and Shadowrun, she writes mostly science fiction and fantasy. Her series include: otherworldly adventures and intrigue in Tales of Mimion; Gods and magic in Sorcery & Steel; an intergalactic worldship with the most diverse crew in history in A Little Piece of Home; enigmatic aliens threatening millions of lives in Curai'Nal; and interstellar exiles working together in Escapes. Her non-genre work includes The Vagabonds' Adventures, about two millionaires living in a luxury double-decker RV; the historical Last Abbot of Lin Duachaill; the romance Masquerade; and the hockey novel Breakaway. She's contributed essays to the Outside In series. Most importantly, she dotes on her astronomically adorable feline kids. For more information including a bibliography and cover gallery, visit her website. Other Socials http://BluetrixBooks.com

< Back Robert A. Heinlein Award The Baltimore Science Fiction Society will present the Robert A. Heinlein Award during the Opening Ceremonies. Sharon Lee Wins 2025 Robert A. Heinlein Award The award will be formally presented during opening ceremonies of Balticon 59 Friday, May 23, 2025 8:00 p.m. Sharon Lee , novelist, is the 2025 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. This award is in recognition of Ms. Lee’s body of work of over 38 novels and short stories. A majority of her space themed work is in the Liaden Universe, written with her late husband Steve Miller, and features merchant families trading across the galaxy. The next Liaden Universe novel, Diviner’s Row, is forthcoming from Baen Books in April 2025. The award will be formally presented during opening ceremonies on Friday, May 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM for Balticon 59, the 59th Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. Balticon will take place at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore Maryland. Ms. Lee will participate in the Balticon program across Memorial Day Weekend. Balticon and the Robert A. Heinlein Award are both managed and sponsored by The Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc. BSFS thanks The Heinlein Society and the family of Dr. Yoji Kondo for providing funding for this award. The Robert A. Heinlein Award is a sterling silver medallion bearing the image of Robert A. Heinlein, as depicted by artist Arlin Robins. The medallion is matched with a red-white-blue lanyard. In addition, the winner receives two lapel pins for use when a large medallion is impractical, and a plaque describing the award for home or office wall display. The Robert A. Heinlein Award selection committee consists of science fiction writers and was founded by Dr. Yoji Kondo, a long-time friend of Robert and Virginia Heinlein. Members of the original committee were approved by Virginia Heinlein. Virginia Heinlein authorized multiple awards in memory of her husband. Other awards include the Heinlein Prize, which is fully funded by Virginia Heinlein's estate, and a National Space Society award for volunteer projects. More information on the Robert A. Heinlein Award, including past winners, can be found at www.bsfs.org/bsfsheinlein.htm Sharon Lee maintains an official website at https://sharonleewriter.com/ To contact the Heinlein Award liaison at BSFS, email dale@bsfs.org Sharon Lee lives in the town of Waterville in the state of Maine, USA. The Robert A. Heinlein Award was founded by Dr. Yoji Kondo, a long-time friend of Robert and Virginia Heinlein. A grant from the Heinlein Society funds half of the costs associated with the award with additional funding provided by the family of Dr. Kondo. Balticon and the Robert A. Heinlein Award are annual activities of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. More information on the Robert A. Heinlein Award, including past winners, can be found at https://www.bsfs.org/bsfsheinlein.htm .

< Back Samantha Mills 2025 Compton Crook Winner In this gripping debut novel from acclaimed Nebula, Sturgeon, and Locus Award-winning author Samantha Mills, a disgraced soldier fights to make sense of her world and the gods who abandoned it. The Wings Upon Her Back is an action-packed, devastating exploration of the brutal costs of zealous loyalty. Zenya was a teenager when she ran away to join the mechanically-modified warrior sect. She was determined to earn mechanized wings and protect the people of Radezhda, the city she loved. Under the strict tutelage of a mercurial, charismatic leader, Vodaya, Zenya finally became Winged Zemolai. But after twenty-six years of service, Zemolai is disillusioned with her role as an enforcer in an increasingly fascist state. After one tragic act of mercy, she is brutally cast out and loses everything she worked for. As Zemolai struggles for her life, she must question her sect, their leader, and even the gods themselves.

< Back John Tilden Operations Heinlein Society In past years you saw John Tilden (or JT as he gladly goes by) as the coordinator for the Heinlein Blood drive, but he is sometimes moderator or panelist on Heinlein or related panels. He also has been reading and collecting comic books since a very young age. John is the current Operations Chair for the Heinlein Society and recognized as a Charter and Lifetime Member. He has enjoyed attending and participating with BSFS at Balticon since the mid-90s and became a Lifetime Member of BSFS in 2020....possibly the only good thing to come out of that year! John has published several poems in small press and had a poem used in the PBS show "Earthscape". Please stop by the Heinlein Society fan table during the con however it is set up and donate blood in your community if you can! Other Socials

< Back Amanda Literary Author Amanda has been an avid adventurer in many realms for about 12 years but spends most of her time in Faerun. When she's not busy saving Faerun with her merry band of adventuring pals, Amanda is cleverly disguised as a mild-mannered job coach. Other Socials

< Back Glitch Symphony Podcasting Content Creator Glitch is a pegasus catgirl vtuber who streams on twitch. She enjoys entertaining her audience with cursed chaotic comfortable content. She sings, does art and plays games. In her spare time she enjoys playing games with her friends, achievement hunting, watching anime, reading, mahjong and cooking for her significant other. Some of the games she plays are Final Fantasy XIV, Honkai Starrail, Genshin impact, Monster Hunter, Pokemon and retro playstation and nintendo games. Other Socials

< Back Ann Pollack Science Scientist Ann Pollack, Principal Professional Staff member at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (APL), brings 35+ years of engineering, supervisory, and project management experience. Her work spans from the Tomahawk missile to ballistic missile defense to the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon. Ann's passion for both science and speculative fiction has led her to actively engage with the science fiction community. At Balticon, she has presented on topics ranging from utilizing lasers for communications to an exploration of a Century of Missiles. APL sponsored her attendance at Helsinki Worldcon where she spoke on Tomorrow’s Cool SciFi Physics. Furthermore, Ann has been instrumental in fostering connections between science and science fiction. She has spearheaded initiatives to bring SciFi writers into the engineering workplace for tours, colloquiums, and panel discussions, all aimed at bridging the gap between imaginative storytelling and cutting-edge scientific innovation. Other Socials

< Back Carl Cipra Literary Fan Carl started reading F&SF in his pre-teen years and has been hooked ever since. He became involved with Fandom back in the 1970s (by way of the SCA in Southern California) and is one of the founding members of Lambda Sci-Fi: DC Area Gaylaxians. He really enjoys moderating discussion panels at conventions and is looking forward to participating in Balticon again this year. Mundanely, Carl is the program manager for instructor-training in a much-maligned, three-letter Government agency. Other Socials

< Back J.D. Blackrose Literary Author J.D. Blackrose is the author of the Summoner’s Mark series which includes Demon Kissed, Fae Crossed, Hell Bound, Samhain’s Bargain, Wish Magic, and Pinky Promise, through Bell Bridge Books. She’s published The Soul Wars, The Devil’s Been Busy, and the Zombie Cosmetologist novellas through Falstaff Books and is contracted for a new horror novel through Falstaff’s horror imprint, Falstaff Dread. She’s published short stories such as “The Space Ark,” in HOZ Journal of Speculative Fiction, “Welcome, Death,” in the Jewish Book of Horror, “Don’t Fool an Earth Witch,” in Mother’s Revenge, “The Book Burning,” in Curiosities, and “Poisoned by Sugar,” in Witches, Warriors, and Wise Women. “The Ghost Train,” was published by Third Flatiron in their Spring 2019 Anthology and Best of 2019 Anthology. Her most recent short stories include “A Sure Bet” in The Valkyries Initiative from CPK Publishing, and “It’s My Nature,” in Never Too Old to Save the World from Outland Entertainment. Other Socials

< Back Jessica Moran Literary Author Jessica Morán is a published fantasy author witch, & poet. Being a lover of all thing geeky she combined her passion for food, fantasy, folklore, & mythology into a shop & has not looked back. She hosts a TikTok channel where she teaches metaphysical mini classes, creates fandom inspired goodies on a budget, reviews books & the occasional film. As a History buff she also has experience combining historical, archaeological, and pop culture studies into her craft both in and out of the kitchen in unique ways. As a passionate fan, proud Latina, author, poet, and historian she offers her unique perspectives on how to make fandom inclusive, safe, and appealing to all with humor and just the right amount of sass. Other Socials

< Back LH Moore Literary Author LH Moore’s speculative fiction has been published in all three Dark Dreams anthologies of Black horror writers; Bram Stoker Award Finalist anthology Sycorax's Daughters; Black Magic Women; the collaborative Chiral Mad 4 anthology, as well as in Apex, FIYAH, and Fireside Magazine. A DC native exiled in Maryland, Moore is a historian with an M.A. in historic preservation and loves classical guitar, graphic novels, and video games. She is a member of the Diverse Writers and Artists of Speculative Fiction creatives group. Other Socials